Optical module for housing an optical component

Abstract

An optical module for housing an optical component to which optical fibers are to be connected, the optical module comprises a casing; at least two round fiber guides which are arranged within the casing, spaced at a distant from each other and around which the optical fibers can be wound; an accommodating space between the two round fiber guides for accommodating the optical component; and at least one opening provided in the casing and being arranged adjacent to one of the round fiber guides for external connections to be made.

1. An optical module for housing an optical component to which optical fibers are to be connected, wherein the optical module comprises:
 a casing; 
 at least one elliptical fiber guide and at least one elliptically arcuate fiber guide which are arranged within the casing, spaced at a distance from each other so that optical fibers can be wound around one or more of said fiber guides individually and in combination; 
 an accommodating space between the fiber guides for accommodating the optical component; and 
 at least one opening provided in the casing and being arranged adjacent to one of the fiber guides for external connections to be made, wherein the opening has a center line substantially directed to the space between the fiber guides. 
 
     
     
       2. The optical module according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one guiding element is provided between the fiber guides and the at least one opening. 
     
     
       3. The optical module according to  claim 1 , and further comprising an accommodating space partially arranged in one of the fiber guides. 
     
     
       4. The optical module according to  claim 1 , wherein a fiber guide comprises an inner wall and an outer wall, wherein a channel is defined between the inner wall and the outer wall for guiding the optical fibers. 
     
     
       5. The optical module according to  claim 1 , further comprising a heating or cooling unit and at least one temperature sensor, wherein a plurality of input and output pins are coupled to the heating or cooling unit and temperature sensor, and extend to the outside of the optical module. 
     
     
       6. The optical module according to  claim 1 , wherein the optical component is an Arrayed Waveguide Grating device. 
     
     
       7. The optical module according to  claim 2 , wherein a plurality of guiding elements are provided between the at least one opening and the fiber guides as well as at a level between the space of the said fiber guides, and being arranged in a row. 
     
     
       8. The optical module according to  claim 4 , wherein at least one inner wall is of circular shape and is arranged concentrically with at least one outer wall that defines an arc of a concentric circle. 
     
     
       9. The optical module according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the fiber guides comprises a spool which is detachably arranged and around which the optical fibers can be wound. 
     
     
       10. The optical module according to  claim 1 , wherein the casing comprises a main body, a top cover and a swing cover. 
     
     
       11. The optical module according to  claim 10 , wherein the swing cover covers the portion above the at least one opening of the optical module, wherein the swing cover can be rotatably moved to expose the opening. 
     
     
       12. The optical module according to  claim 10 , wherein the main body, the top cover and the swing cover are held together using magnetic forces exerted by magnetic materials inserted into at least one region of the main body and corresponding regions of both the top cover and the swing cover. 
     
     
       13. The optical module according to  claim 1 , wherein excess lengths of one or more of said optical fibers from one or more said optical components are wound around one of said fiber guides. 
     
     
       14. The optical module according to  claim 13 , wherein said one of said fiber guides does not contain an optical component. 
     
     
       15. The optical module according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the fiber guides is circular. 
     
     
       16. An optical module for housing an optical component to which optical fibers are to be connected, wherein the optical module comprises:
 a casing; 
 at least one elliptical fiber guide and at least one elliptically arcuate fiber guide which are arranged within the casing, spaced at a distance from each other so that optical fibers can be wound around one or more of said fiber guides individually and in combination; 
 an accommodating space between the fiber guides for accommodating the optical component; 
 at least one opening provided in the casing and being arranged adjacent to one of the fiber guides for external connections to be made; and 
 a temperature controlling unit and at least one temperature sensor, wherein a plurality of input and output pins are coupled to the temperature controlling unit and the temperature sensor, and extend to the outside of the optical module. 
 
     
     
       17. The optical module according to  claim 16 , wherein at least one guiding element is provided between the fiber guides and the at least one opening. 
     
     
       18. The optical module according to  claim 17 , wherein a plurality of guiding elements are provided between the at least one opening and the fiber guides as well as at a level between the space of the said fiber guides and being arranged in a row. 
     
     
       19. The optical module according to  claim 16 , and further comprising an accommodating space partially arranged in one of the fiber guides. 
     
     
       20. The optical module according to  claim 16 , wherein the respective fiber guide comprises an inner wail and an outer wall, wherein a channel is defined between the inner wall and the outer wall for guiding the optical fibers. 
     
     
       21. The optical module according to  claim 16 , wherein the optical component is an Arrayed Waveguide Grating device. 
     
     
       22. The optical module according to  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the fiber guides comprises a spool which is detachably arranged and around which the optical fibers can be wound. 
     
     
       23. The optical module according to  claim 16 , wherein the casing comprises a main body, a top cover and a swing cover. 
     
     
       24. The optical module according to  claim 23 , wherein the swing cover covers the portion above the at least one opening of the optical module, wherein the swing cover can be rotatably moved to expose the opening. 
     
     
       25. The optical module according to  claim 23 , wherein the main body, the top cover and the swing cover are held together using magnetic forces exerted by magnetic materials inserted into at least one region of the main body and corresponding regions of both the top cover and the swing cover. 
     
     
       26. The optical module according to  claim 16 , wherein excess lengths of one or more of said optical fibers from one or more said optical components are wound around one of said fiber guides. 
     
     
       27. The optical module according to  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the fiber guides is circular.